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‘It is very important […] not to ask students to reproduce images of […] figures considered to be prophets in Islam’
Local Labour Party government councils in the northern United Kingdom have issued a “guidance” to schools warning that dancing, music, and children’s drawings “could contravene the teachings of Islam.”
The guidance, titled “Sharing The Journey,” is “designed to help schools ‘demonstrate a sensitive and positive approach to religious and cultural diversity to pupils, parents and carers,'” the Daily Mail reports.
In Islam, music is “traditionally limited to the human voice and non-tuneable percussion instruments as in the days of the Prophet, when they were only used in marriage ceremonies and on the battlefield,” the guidelines read.
In addition, teachers should be mindful not to require students to “join in” on songs that “conflict with their religious beliefs.”
Ditto the theatrical arts — students should not be assigned parts which “may seem to compromise their faith,” nor should there be “physical contact between males and females […] in a manner that might encourage immodesty or sexual feelings.”
The Telegraph notes certain images in art classes could be considered “idolatrous” under Sharia law’s hadith — where Mohammed “speaks out against images, particularly those imitating living beings.”
“It is very important that the school understands this and is also careful not to ask its students to reproduce images of Jesus, the Prophet Mohammed or other figures considered to be prophets in Islam. Some Muslim pupils may not wish to draw the human figure,” teachers are advised.
The guidance originated from the local council that covers the Batley Grammar School, site of protests in 2021 after a young teacher showed a drawing of Mohammed to his religious studies class.
Despite a “sincere and full apology” from the school’s headmaster and a statement noting the drawing was “completely inappropriate,” the teacher remains in hiding after half a decade. The year before, a teacher in Paris was beheaded for showing an image of the Muslim prophet.
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